Do unions care more about foreign unionists than local jobseekers?
2.47m members in 213 registered trade unions in 1994 grew by 2002 to 4.07m members in 504 unions, while membership stayed steady at roughly 21% of the economically active population. An influential 21%, however. Last year President Mbeki promised to review by September the regulatory framework constraining the small and medium business sector, to facilitate its further growth and development, then make needed changes. Nothing was done. Again last week he promised to complete by December the system of exemptions for small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) regarding taxes, levies and central bargaining. Cosatu instantly threatened major conflict over ‘government’s fourth attempt to weaken unions.’ It appears that Cosatu prefers high unemployment and low growth. Now Germany’s carmakers are considering outsourcing more production to countries with cheaper labour. And our metalworkers’ union Numsa plans to resist such job creation here at the expense of German retrenchments. It appears
